March 26th 2009

Do you KNOW That God Is Good?

“Now behold, one came and said to him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So he said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God.”Mathew 19:16-17 (NKJV)

Jesus was intrigued why this young man called him Him good, and wanted to know if he really understood what he had said. It seems that the young man didn’t, and was perhaps only being polite. Why was this important to Jesus?

The events of another occasion help explain. Jesus asked his disciples who men said that he was. There were many opinions, but then he asked them who they thought he was. Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus knew that this belief comes only from above. This wonderful gift of God, knowledge of and belief in Him, is evidence to us that we have eternal life. Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

If you truly know God and believe Him and Jesus Christ, then you will love them and will seek to obey them. Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.”

What are Jesus’ commandments? “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-39)

By this you will know if you ‘Know God is good’.

Prayer
Our Father in Heaven, Thank you so much for revealing who you are to me. For granting me this wonderful knowledge and belief that you are the God who is Good, and Jesus Christ is your Son. Help me to express my love for you in my obedience to Jesus’ commandments to love you with all my being, and my neighbour as myself.
Amen